Curl holder



May 15, 1962 v. L. FULCO ETAL CURL HOLDER Filed May 27, 1960 INVENTORS VIRGINIA I... FULCO By MARIE CURRAN ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,934,515 CURL HQLDER Virginia L. Fulco, Los Angeles, Calif. (100 Goddard Ave, Brookline 46, Mass), and Marie Curran, 5725 /2 Burchard Ave, Los Angeles, Calif.

Filed May 27, 1960, Ser. No. 32,178 9 Claims. (Cl. 132-40) This invention pertains to a device for retaining and forming curls of hair, commonly known as pin curls.

In the forming of pin curls for womens hair, various types of clips, generally of metal construction, have been utilized to retain a wound coil of hair. The usual device of this type has several disadvantages. The forming and retaining of the curls is a time-consuming and relatively difiicult task. In many of the devices, the curls of hair are distorted, or may not be held with adequate retentive force with the attendant result that the curls are imperfeet and do not achieve the desired affect. Furthermore, with a number of these devices in the hair, which must be kept in place for considerable time, an unattractive appearance is produced. Also, many of the conventional pin curl holders may be quite uncomfortable to the person in whose hair they are placed.

According to the present invention, the shortcomings of these prior designs are overcomeby means of a device preferably of soft plastic construction including claw-like members adapted to retain and hold a curl of hair symmetrically about a central hub. The holding members are provided with teeth on their tip ends for providing a gripping force on the hair and define an annular passageway that retains the hair without distorting the contour of the curl. The plastic retm'ning members are readily deflected to permit the device to be associated with a curl of hair, yet will automatically assume the retaining position when they are released. Moreover,

the device includes provisions for removably associating ornaments with each of the holders which completely cover and disguise the presence of the holder and the pin curl beneath, giving the wearer a pleasing and attractive hairdo during the time that the curl holders are in place.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a device for quickly and easily retaining and holding curls of hair with adequate retentive force yet Without distortion of the coil of hair.

Another object of this invention is to provide a curl holding device having retaining members provided with a permanent set toward a retaining position, yet which are defiectable to permit association with a curl of hair.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device having provisions for associating an ornament with the pin curl holding device to entirely cover the same.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device of simplified, low-cost construction.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the device of this invention with the ornament removed for clarity,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the arrangement of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4tof FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a modified'form of the invention having an elongated retaining member,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG-5 taken along line 66 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a further modification of the invention in which a retaining ring is employed, and

3,9345% Fatented May 15, 1962 FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken retaining ring to the remaining portions of the device.

With reference to the drawing, the device of this invention includes a hollow tubular hub portion 1 from which radiate three retaining members 2, 3 and 4 which are attached at their upper ends to the upper end of hub 1. Preferably, the hub and retaining members are integrally formed from a single piece or" soft plastic material. Each of the retaining members is arcuate in configuration, as illustrated, and teeth 5, 6 and 7 are provided at the ends of these members. In the free position of members 2, 3 and 4, the teeth 5, 6 and 7 are disposed adjacent huh I and incline upwardly along the outer Wall of the hub.

In addition to these elements, the device preferably includes an ornament 8 which is provided with a support post 9 and a suitable ornamental piece such as an imitation flower 1% at the upper end of post 9. The ornament assembly =8 is adapted to be associated with the device, as illustrated in FIG. 4, with post 9 inserted within the central opening 11 of hub 1 and the ornamental device 19' overlying the retaining members 2, 3 and 4. Preferably, the span of member 19 is such that it entirely overlaps and conceals the retaining members as the device is viewed from above. Any desired arrangement may be utilized in retaining post 9 to the huh I, one of the simplest and most eilective connections being by means of a frictional force fit with the hub. With this arrangement, therefore, the ornament is removable from the hub at will, yet when inserted therein is firmly retained.

In utilizing the device of this invention, the curl of hair is formed, and the retaining members 2, 3 and 4 are bent upwardly and outwardly to positions such as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2. This permits the open center of the coil of hair to receive the hub 1 with the hair curl then being Wrapped around the hub. After this, the retaining members 2., 3 and 4 are released and directed again toward their original positions The openings 12, i3 and 1.4, defined by the arcuate retaining members and the adjacent wall of the hub, then receive the curl of hair and the retaining members hold the curl of hair against the hub. The use of plastic with the free position such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, causes the hair curl to be retained firmly but without distortion. The teeth 5, 6 and 7 at the ends of retaining members 2, 3 and 4 act as combs passing into the interstices between the strands of hair and assisting in the holding action. In this manner, the device is used without difficulty and, is associated with and retains the curl of hair in only a few moments of time. The large annular passageway defined by the openings 12, 13 and 14 around the hub assure that the curl is not distorted but will retain a natural and pleasing contour. The defiectable nature of retaining members 2, 3 and 4 also permits the invention to be associated with cur-ls of different sizes all of which will be properly and securely held.

After the curl of hair is secured, the ornament 8 is atached, bringing post 9 into the opening 11 within the hub to position the ornamental piece 10 above the retaining members and the curl of hair. When this is done, the retaining device and the curl of hair as well are entirely hidden from View. Therefore, this invention not only holds and retains the hair curl, but also provides the wearer with an attractive hairdo during the time that the curl holders are in place. Instead of presenting an unsightly appearance, the use of the pin curl holder of this invention permits the wearer to achieve a variation in hair style that is at all times pleasing and presentable. It is obvious, of course, that many difierent ornaments may be used in attaining any desired efiect.

has generally the arcuate shape of the other retaining claws, but at its lower end includes an elongated comb portion 17 that extends beneath the hub 1 and across the width of the unit instead of lying adjacent the circumferential Wall'of the hub, as in the previously described embodiment. The purpose of this elongated retaining member with its comb portion 17 is to provide an even greater retaining force for the device of this invention to assure that under no circumstances will it become dislodged from the hair. The comb 17 engages the base of the pin curl formed so that there is a strong retentive force in that location as well as around the periphery of the curl. Again, the ornament 8 may be associated with the unit after it is in place in the hair.

The arrangement shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is basically the same as that in FIGS. 1 through 4 with the additional provision of a retaining ring 19. This ring is adapted to circumscribethe holding claws 2, 3 and 4, as indicated in solid lines in FIG. 7, to assure that these retaining members will not be distorted outwardly so as to release the curl of hair. It is dimensioned to engage the outer edges of the members 2, 3 and 4 in what is their normal holding position. Whenthis is done, it is next to impossible for the retaining members 2, 3 and 4 to be deflected to a position'where the curl of hair would be released.

Retaining ring 19 is pivotally mounted to one of the holding claws by means of a boss 20 which may be formed integrally with and project outwardly from one of the retaining members to receive a portion of the ring 19, which portion may be of reduced diameter as shown. Therefore, when the retaining ring is to be removed from the holding members 2, 3 and 4, it is pivoted outwardly about boss 20 to the position indicated in phantom in FIG. 7, which allows the members 2, 3 and 4 to be bent outwardly in the usual manner, either for association with or removal from a curl of hair. With the hair curl in place, the retaining ring 19 is pivoted about its mounting light retaining device for each curl that is held. 'There are no protrusions to catch on other curl holding devices that may have been'placed in the hair. This adds to the comfort while the curl holders are being worn, as well as during their installation and removal. The use of soft plasticfor the device of this invention also avoids discomfortto the wearer, especially while lying down. The secure atachment to the hair is facilitated'by the circumferential ribs extending around the hub as seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as. given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this linvention being limited solely by the appended claims.

We claim: 1. A curl holding device comprising a central member,

and a plurality of retaining members secured thereto, each of said retaining members extending outwardly'fiom one 7 end portion of'said central member'andthen inwardly to a free position in adjacency therewith to define an opening adapted to receive portions of a curl of hair, at least one of said retaining members being substantially arcuate in form, the distal end thereof inclining toward said one end portion of said central member when said one retaining member is in said free position, said retaining members being deflectable to a location remote from said adjacent position forpermitting insertion or removal of a curl of hair. e 1

2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which said retaining members are provided with a plurality of teeth at their distal end portions.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 including in addition a support member removably, connectable to said central member, said support member including'an ornamental portion overlying said retaining members when so connected to said hub.

4. A pin curl holding device comprising a hub, and a plurality of retaining members projecting fromone end portion of said hub, said retaining members being of defiectable construction having a free position in which 'said members extend outwardly andv downwardly from said upper end portion of said hub and thence inwardly at the distal end thereof to a position of adjacency with the outer wall of said hub, said distal ends being inclined upwardly toward said one end portion of said hub.

5. A device as recited in claim 4 in which'said retaining members are constructed of a relatively soft deflectable plastic material.

6. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said hub includes a recess therein, and including in addition'a member removably insertable into said recess, and an ornament attached to said last mentioned member and overlying said retaining members when'said member is so inserted.

7. A device as recited in claim 4 in which one of said retain ng members is of elongated construction including a com-b portion which in the free position ofsaid elongated retaining member extends beneath said hub.

8. A device as recited in claim 4 including in addition a retaining ring adapted to circumscribe said retaining members along the outer peripheral edges thereoffor holding the same in substantially their free position, said retaining ring being pivotally connected to one of said retaining members.

9. A curl holding device comprising a substantially cylindrical tubular hub of relatively soft deflectable plastic material, and a plurality of retaining members formed integrally with and projecting from said one end of said hub, said retaining members being arcuate in form so as to extend outwardly from said one end of said hub, and thence away from said one end to a position substantially aligned with the opposite end of said hub, the distal ends of said retaining members being directed inwardly to a position'of adjacency with said hub andlincli'ned toward said one end of said hub, said distal ends of said retaining members being wider than said retaining members at said one end of said hub and including a plurality of teeth therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,237,942 Lemly Apr. 8, 1941 2,409,081 Torrens Oct. 8, 1946 2,623,530 Solomon Dec. 3%, 1952 2,682,878 Pisciotta July'6, 1954 2,789,565 Voorhees Apr. 23, 1957 2,888,019 Whitmore May 26, 1959 

